UMass basketball player Sam Breen sells dog treats through NIL

The Massachusetts Collective announced Thursday that UMass women’s basketball forward Sam Breen and the NIL collective have released a line of basketball-shaped dog treats. They’re named “Turbo’s Treats” after her dog, Turbo.

All of the proceeds will benefit the Dakin Humane Society, according to a press release.

Breen was named A-10 Player of the Year in 2022 after she averaged 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while leading the conference with 17 double-doubles. In five games this season, she’s averaging 20.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

“Sam is the reigning A-10 Player of the Year, and although it’s unofficial, I’d say her dog Turbo is reigning A-10 Pup of the Year,” The Massachusetts Collective Director Patrick MacWilliams said in the release. “We were looking for another unique NIL deal after signing the amazing Tafara Gapare. I immediately thought of Sam and her Instagram-famous pup Turbo. When she suggested it be a charity-based initiative, everything fell into place.”

Turbo’s Treats are available in individual packets and through subscriptions. They’re sold in 14-ounce packages.

“I had thought about how the passing of NIL rules for student-athletes could be used to help community-based charities like animal shelters, so when the UMass Collective brought this idea to me, it was a no-brainer,” Breen said in a statement. “And to get Turbo’s help is an added benefit! I am super excited to see where this goes.”

The Massachusetts Collective said it will provide 100 pounds of dog treats to the Dakin Humane Society, which is a 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization.

Athletes use NIL opportunities to give back

Breen’s NIL activation directly benefitting the Dakin Humane Society is one of countless examples of athletes using their NIL opportunities to give back to a charity or their local community.

Other recent examples include Oklahoma quarterback General Booty committing to donate 20 percent of the profits from his custom merchandise to the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital and a portion of the proceeds from The General’s Crimson Cream to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Clemson running back Will Shipley and EDGE K.J. Henry have started an endowment at the university using profits from their NIL deals.

Stanford defensive back Terian Williams II used earnings from his roughly 30 partnerships to provide groceries, Christmas gifts and housing to 10 families in his hometown of Atlanta.

The Massachusetts Collective creates NIL opportunities for UMass athletes

The Massachusetts Collective launched in October 2022, just prior to the start of the college basketball season. MacWilliams previously said the collective planned to have a 90-percent focus on men’s basketball. He said the collective’s goal is to sign three to five players per season.

The Massachusetts Collective previously announced it signed forward Dyondre Dominguez, point guard Noah Fernandes and Gapara, a forward.

MacWilliams is the owner of a moving and storage company that agreed to NIL deals with two UMass men’s basketball players and one men’s hockey player on July 1, 2021, when the NCAA’s NIL era started.